The contest for the Presidency of the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has witnessed series of political machinations and gimmicks, entering its near final stage on Tuesday 11th May, 2019. The emergence of Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan as the most preferred candidate of APC as President of the Senate through consensus and endorsements of the party and President Muhammadu Buhari technically means he would most likely man the affairs of the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

If this goal is achieved on Tuesday and moving forward I am sure there will exist harmonious executive-legislative transactions thereby facilitating the implementation of the APC’s next level agenda for the betterment of Nigeria and its citizenry. As party men and women who benefited from its ticket, the Senators Elect must as a matter of loyalty abide by the party’s decision on the matter.

I also have no doubt in my mind that this time around the party’s supremacy and the nation’s interest must prevail above any other consideration. And, if any other contestant refuse to tore collective interests of the party and the nation citing flimsy excuses for such action, serious minded persons would know such persons or groups may not be actually working in the interest of the party or its national leadership.

It should be noted that leadership elections in the legislative arm of government across the globe are usually first held by the party caucus. As organised by the caucus of the APC in Nigeria, even in the United States of America and other developed democracies, the outcome of such political process is usually the product of countless political transactions between and among individual legislators and the party leadership.

In most cases, this process  is achieved through series of accommodations and understandings. To claim this painstaking engagement resembles imposition of candidates on the National Assembly as some interested parties would want us to believe is just the highest disservice to our party and the nation in general. Dont forget this hallowed chamber of the Senate is a sophisticated and conscious political party arena that is made up of men and women of high level of political sagacity.

Moreover, Senator Lawan of Yobe North, who emerged the consensus candidate of the 9th Senate Presidency, is an excellent negotiator and veteran Nigerian legislator who transcends his way from the House of Representatives up to the ladder of Senate’s succession. By all standards, Senator Lawan in his own right is a legislative legend having achieved 20 years of unbroken chain of legislative experience.

Senator Lawan’s unmatched experience with any Senator or House of Representatives Elect in the 9th National Assembly cannot be learnt anywhere outside the hallowed chambers. More interestingly, his six straight election victories from 1999 to 2019 had also produced unwavering support and acceptance for Lawn in the progressive caucus. His wide endorsements by his distinguished colleagues across party lines further tested and cofirmed his national political clout.

This is not suprising to most of us that despite many years of holding sensitive offices and positions in both chambers among several other national assignments, Senator Lawan was never found wanting in any act of political, economic or moral wrongdoing. Therefore I have no doubt in my mind that  Senator Lawan is the kind of leader that most Nigerians are currently yearning for to support President Buhari to take Nigerians and Nigeria to the next level of progress, unity and sustainable development.

With the recent withdrawal of Senator Mohammed Goje from the race of the Senate Presidency and his declared support for Senator Lawan, what is not certain is whether the Borno Senator Mohammed Ndume truly wanted to go through with the election at the floor of the Senate chambers without the supposed approval of the party that gave him the platform to emerge as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Overall, with all the progress made so far on this matter by the party and the deliberate denial by Senator Ndume to see reason for consolidation of the gains of Buhari’s administration through harmonious executive legislative relations, the question many Nigerians and Senators elect keep asking is can Ndume and his co-travellers be trusted once more? I am sure the APC must have learnt it bitter lesson the most difficult way that must no be repeated.

Beyond that, I must frankly say that Senator Ndume must immediately tore the party’s line. We could go on about just how embarrassing the entire situation will be if he fails to join the Lawan’s train in earnest. Impliedly, this may mean, by not towing the party lines, Ndume and his cohorts have publicly showed their opposition to the party and President Buhari who himeslf piloted the endorsement of Senator Lawan as the next President of the Senate.

Therefore, any further delay to work harmoniously with the party and its leadership, Ndume and his co-travellers are in danger of being sucked down the same abyss of betrayal that Saraki’s reputation went into. At the end of the day, history will remember Ndume’s embarrassment as an outright hostility on the party unless he and his colleagues break out and stand on their party before moving to the hallowed chamber of the Senate on Tuesday 11th May, 2019.

It is my candid opinion that the next level government of APC under the leadership of President Buhari, many Nigerians are hopeful will be dominated by people who have a clean slate as Buhari. This is more important as we are currently immersed in economic, political and social disasters that requires collaborative efforts. Indeed, this time morethan ever, Nigeria is crying out for transformative and collaborative leadership for the betterment of the lives of its citizenry.

In essence and fundamentally, this is a call for action for all credible and patriotic people now in the Senate and other stakeholders to make sacrifice and push for better Nigeria that we all are yearning for. It is not too late, but it is getting pretty close and we have to do it together irrespective of party affiliations. There is no doubt that people of Nigeria spoke very loud and clear as they not only voted for change in 2015 but also did same even more in 2019 for the next level.

Certainly, Nigerians want the national leadership of the country to do something including the national assembly; as they eagerly want something positive and progressive to happen in every arm of government. This is so pertinent as President Buhari cannot do it alone to turn around this country. For those who always think there is always a way in Nigeria it will not be always be business as usual. It’s time for progress as ordinary Nigerians are carefully watching.

At least Nigerians now have the clear picture of Senator Lawan’s Legislative Agenda for the 9th Senate and National Assembly. His message is simple and very clear “A National Assembly that Works for Nigeria”. This I honestly believe can only be achieved through harmonious executive-legislative relationships for the benefit and common good of all Nigerians which Senator Lawan is fully ready and prepared to provide.

Respectfully, Senator Ndume  is also an experienced legislator, and I have all the respect for him as a politician. But, certainly this is not time for division neither in the party, National Assembly nor in the country. It must be restated here that most Nigerians who voted the Senators to represent them at the nation’s highest law making body just wanted the very best and experienced leader among their equals as President of the 9th Senate and National Assembly.

Indeed, it’s so clear that most Nigerians expect their senators to not only choose one among their equals but also the very best among their equals in the best interests of the party, the National Assembly and the republic. To put it perfectly, Senator Lawan has the needed experience, temperament, competence and capacity to make things work better in the nation’s body legislature. Now morethan ever It’s time for real legislative business to start for greater Nigeria.

Ali Ibrahim Abbas PhD is the Director Planning and Strategy of Yobe APC  Campaign Organisation for the 2019 General Elections. Dr Abbas can be reached via alibrahim85@yahoo.com

I commit to giving life to my vision of a united, productive and people- centred 9th Senate that is dedicated to the service of the Nigerian people. To achieve this, we shall improve on our processes and harness technology to increase our effectiveness and efficiency.

By optimising the synergy between the Senate and the Executive Arm of Government, the Senate, under my leadership, will jealously guard its independence while diligently playing its part in ensuring that the task of national development moves forward with the required urgency. In the laws we enact, in the oversight and representations we undertake, the wellbeing of the Nigerian people will always be our priority.

While putting the foregoing into effect, we shall use all available channels to ensure a regular flow of information to the general public, and encourage feedback and dialogue so that we remain responsive to the Nigerian people that we were elected to serve. I am confident that, in no time, we shall transform the public perception of the Senate positively.

As President of the Senate, I will take the mandate given to me by my colleagues as a privilege, an honour and a sacred duty to my country. I will discharge this duty with utmost humility and dedication.

Thank you

God bless Nigeria
Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, CON

Danjuma Goje, Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations on Thursday stepped down for Ahmed Lawan in the race for the Senate President.

Goje revealed this after a short meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

As the coast seems clear for Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan, here are five facts you probably didn’t know about him

1. Lawan was born in 1959 (56 years), he is a graduate of the University of Maiduguri where he read geography. He also has a postgraduate diploma in land survey, an MSc and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS), all from the University of Cranfield, United Kingdom. His National Youth Service Corps programme was in Benue State.

2. Lawan became a graduate assistant at the University of Maiduguri after he graduated and he retired as an accomplished scholar and educationist before his foray into active politics.

3. Lawan has been a member of the Nigerian parliament since the return of democracy in the country in 1999. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1999. After 8 years in the lower chambers, Lawan was elected into the Nigerian Senate in 2007, and he has been a member of the upper chambers since then.

4. Lawan has bagged so many awards that include National Honours Award of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON); Fellow of the Institute for Government Research and Leadership Technology (2012); Best Performing Senator in Yobe State in 2009 by Yobe State Students’ Association, University of Abuja Chapter; Best Senator for Effective Oversight, NUJ; Best Senator in 2011 by Baseline Global Ventures; and the Sardauna Legendary Pillar of Exemplary Leadership Award by Leadership and Role Model Foundation of Nigeria.

5. Lawan ran for reelection in Yobe North Senatorial District on the ANPP platform in the 9 April 2011 elections. He won with 92,799 votes.

Front line runner for the position of Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, on Friday, unveiled his agenda for the Ninth Senate if elected Senate President.

Tagged “A National Assembly that works for Nigeria: Proposed legislative agenda for the 9th Senate,” the document contained his vision and mission statement.

Fourty two senators-elect including five Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), attended the event to identify with the aspiration of the Lawan to emerge the President of the 9th Senate.

The Yobe North Senator said that the unveiling of the legislative agenda, which started on Friday will end in 2023 at the end of the Ninth Senate.

The unveiling of the agenda, he said, is basically to tell Nigerians the focus and the engagements of the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said that the agenda has two segments, one to ensure that senators perform optimally and effectively for the progress of the country.

Secondly, what individual senators think about the country and how to make the country great and purposeful.

Lawan said that his vision is to unite the Senate as an institution by ensuring inclusiveness, justice, fair play and respect for all political parties that are represented in the Senate.

He underscored the need to have a consultative and a focused bi-cameral legislature whose sole preoccupation is the business of Nigeria and the welfare of Nigerians.

The Senate President hopeful said that they are conscious of the challenges the country faces but not unmindful that of the fact that the challenges will not be easy to address.

For him, the journey to address the myriads of challenges facing the country requires sacrifice, perseverance, determination and brotherhood.

He was however convinced that “once we remain focused and united, we can do a lot.”

He said, “We are faced with new security challenges. In 2015 when the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari came, the major security challenge was Boko Haram. Boko Haram was squarely confronted and substantially decimated. With new security challenges, we must all think out of the box how we can intervene with experts who know, how to intervene through legislative support.”

On the economy, he said, they intend to provide necessary legislative intervention to grow the economy.

He also stressed the compelling need to ensure early passage of the appropriation bill to create the much needed stable budget circle.

The issue of not passing the budget on time, he said, does not augur well for the country.

He said noted that from budget presentation by President Buhari to budget defence by ministers and the processing of budget document, will have a time frame.

Lawan who recognised the fact that it takes two to tangle said that the Executive arm, especially ministers, should be brought on board to defend the budget of their ministries on time.

He expressed optimism that the Executive arm would be prepared to work with the legislature to stabilize the budget circle of the country.

On education, Lawan regretted that the country has the enviable record of having the highest out of school children in the world.

He noted that though the exact number of out of school children in the country is not known, the figure would be established, while strenuous effort would be made to reduce the number.

Assuring that “we must make government work” he lamented that “out of school children are not only a social problem for us, they are also a security challenge to the country.”

He said that out of school children are readily available to be recruited as Boko Haram insurgents and kidnappers, they create other security challenges.

He said, “We have to make the difference. In 2013, we should be able to say that we have done well. We have to put on our thinking cap to address the challenges facing our country.

“The economy has been growing at two or three percent. Our economy need to be better than that. Our economy has to be diversified to create more jobs for our people.

“Kidnapping has upstream and downstream sectors. Those who kidnap are different from those who negotiate for ransom. We have to deal with the issue.

“The Nigeria economy must be diversified. We have to look at the entire value chain from growing to marketing.

“There will be no dichotomy between parties in the Senate. There is already amalgamation in our fold here. There are PDP, APC and YPP. With this kind of consensus, we will go far.

He said that their objective is to make Nigeria an economic growth hub, and the most sought-after business destination in Africa.

According to him, this will be achieved through legislative and policy coordination with the Executive Arm of the Federal Government.

He noted that necessary reforms and legal instruments that will promote diversification and investment in the critical (real and service) sectors of the Nigerian economy will be introduced.

Lawan said that priority will be given to a legal regime that facilitates ease of doing business with the view to catelysing double digit growth and rapid employment generation.

“We are determined to achieve. We are not assuming that it will be easy. We want to do every thing in the national interest. We will relate with the House of Representatives. Already we have our Speaker (Femi Gbajabiamila) and Deputy Speaker (Wase).

“We will have a cordial relationship with the executive arm. A rancorous relation everybody suffers.

“Nigerians expect us to do every thing possible to make life better for them. We have no reason not to relate well with the other arm. Where we have to disagree, we agree on national interest. Nigerians will always be the winners.”

The agenda also includes institutional diagnosis, legislative processes, bill progression tracking and monitoring, enhancement of internal operations of committees, committees and agenda setting, operational efficiency and compliance, performance of committees, funding of committees, communication and public relations, strengthening of oversight functions and capacity building for senators and NASS staff.

Others are staff welfare and improved industrial relations, planning and budget process reform, open NASS and budget transparency, ICT-enabled Senate, internet and electronic noticeboards, digitalisation and archiveing of records and inter-chamber coordination.

Strengthening external relations, presidency and federal government, state government/House of Assembly, media, and general public are also part of the agenda.

Senators  attended the unveiling including five PDP senators and one YPP senator.

The senators, one after another, took turns to introduce themselves and pledge their support for Lawan’s aspiration.

The PDP Senators at the event included Senators Abba Moro, (Benue south) Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South) Cliford Ordia (Edo central), Gershom Bassey (Cross River south) and Lawali Anka (Zamfara West)

Lawan began the event by commending Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje who stepped down for him on Thursday for “the show of leadership, patriotism, sacrifice and commitment.”

Chairman, Ahmad Lawan campaign group, Senator Abdullahi Yahaya flagged off the event by declaring that their vision will be to rise above the challenges they met.

He said, “Our job is to make the Ninth Senate a beacon of progress and a beacon that all Nigerians will be proud of. In this journey, there is no junior or senior. All of us are equal. We will work to uplift Nigeria and Nigerians.”

Some of the APC Senators-elect that attended included Senators Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Bamidele Opeyemi, Orji Uzor Kalu, Ovie Omo-Agege, Francis Alimikhena, and Ahmed Baba Kaita.

Senator-elect Abia North Constituency, Orji Uzor Kalu disclosed that 21 PDP lawmakers have endorsed Senator Ahmad Lawan as candidate for the Senate Presidency.

Speaking in an interview  on Friday , Kalu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for prevailing on Senator Danjuma Goje to step down for Senator Ahmad Lawan as candidate for the Senate Presidency, adding that such rapprochement was critical to ensuring the party speaks with one voice on such a fundamental matter.

He said: “What they are doing is part of democracy. Democracy must not agree and that is why it is democracy. Democracy is a collection of all opinions. But we have called on Mr. President based on the way he settled the Goje matter, for us to be able to call them. If President occasionally intervenes in this kind of issue, we will not be having problems. In PDP, there are bigger problems but they intervene and settle the matter. Before President will tell you, I don’t want to play politics but he is the chief politician. I think the President has started changing his mind to be able to intervene in cases like that.”

Kalu said his endorsement of Lawan as President of the Senate was driven by deep convictions about Lawan’s capacity to push for robust leadership that will deepen the political and economic space for the prosperity of Nigeria and Nigerians.

He said:” Well for the first time, I will tell the press, I have known Lawan for over 40 years. Lawan was my roommate in the university. We lived in the same room in the University of Maiduguri. So he is qualified for the job. This is what I consistently telling people about him. I am not against him. Ali Ndume is my very good brother and I am not against him. But I am just saying that Lawan has been endorsed by all Senators of the party and by individuals. When I said last week that we had 58 Senators, people thought it was a joke.

“That was excluding PDP. But now, we have 21 PDP that have already signed for Lawan as at last week. Now that Goje is no longer running and I can say it out, we have 21 PDP when we had 58 APC but we kept it in the cooler; it was our last strategy to say it on Monday that we have 21 PDP.

“And we said that any PDP member that would not be willing on Monday to disclose his name should drop. So, this is the issue, we were ready. We don’t want to fight because we have fought so much. We want one Senate, one party after all, what is the difference. The difference is party. I was 8 years PDP governor, I was also 2 years NRC member of House of Representatives; So all these things are colouration of names.

He restated his clamour for the position of Deputy Senate President ceded to the South East Region, saying it was only Godly, moral and in the sense of equity, balance and justice to do that.

Kalu clarified that it was not about self, but ensuring geopolitical balance.

– Sen. Ahmad Lawan’s has launched of his 9th Senate presidency’s agenda

– The event was graced by some senators-elect from the PDP and YPP who declared their full support for his candidacy

– Some of the senators include Clifford Odia (PDP-Edo), Mathew Urhoghide (PDP-Edo) and Gershom Bassey (PDP-Cross River)

Some senators-elect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressive Party (YPP), on Friday, June 7, attended Sen. Ahmad Lawan’s launch of his 9th Senate presidency’s agenda, declaring their full support for his candidacy.

Others are Abba Morro (PDP-Benue), Lawali Anka (PDP-Zamfara) and Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP-Anambra).

African Journalist  reports that the 20-page proposed legislative agenda contains his vision and direction for the 9th Senate should he emerge as Nigeria’s senate president come June 11.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the event in Abuja, Ifeanyi Ubah of YPP said Lawan ls the most experience and competent senator to assume the office of the senate president.

“He has the experience, he is competent and has served as majority leader in the Senate,” he said.

Ubah said with the long years of experience as a legislator, Lawan would successfully deliver on his mandate if elected to be the Senate helmsman.

He stressed that though he was backing the candidacy of Lawan, he still remained a YPP senator-elect.

Also speaking, the PDP senator-elect, Morro, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) preferred candidate ”has a very beautiful resume.”

“Senator Lawan is one of the longest serving legislators in this country and a Senate leader.

“When you juxtaposed that experience and exposure vis-a-vis the vision that is required of Nigeria, you will come to acknowledge that in the present circumstances, he is the best candidate for this job,” he said.

He said he was also attracted by his campaign vision titled: ”A National Assembly that Works for Nigeria.”

“I found some attractions and a mixture of chemistry here when i discovered that Senator Lawan has such theme like ‘A system that works for all Nigerians.

Earlier, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, who welcomed the guests at the launch, said if elected as senate president, “he would reposition the Senate to carry out its constitutional duties of legislation, oversight and representation in an open and transparent manner’’.

The lawmaker, who promised timely passage of appropriation bill, said he would implement a national planning and annual budget process that would foster collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government.

He said the country’s economy needed to be diversified and the Senate, under his watch, would give the necessary backing.

A document containing the vision of Distinguished Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan as the Senate President of the 9th National Assembly.

Earlier today at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, Distinguished Senator Ahmad Lawan in the company of scores of senators-elect and other dignitaries unveiled his vision for @nassnigeria

Although not exhaustive, the vision encapsulates what will form the basis of his leadership at the National Assembly which commences on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019.

It outlines the strategic direction that the Senator Ahmad Lawan-led Senate intends to take over the next four years.

It has 7 broad objectives known as the ‘Legislative Agenda’ of the 9th Senate. They include:

1. Reposition the Senate to carry out its constitutional duties of legislation, oversight and representation in an open and transparent manner;

2. Strengthen the internal operations and processes of the Committees of the Senate towards efficient service delivery;

3. Take legislative action to improve national economic conditions including public finance management and national security architecture and to reduce poverty, unemployment and infrastructure deficits;

4. Propose and implement a national planning and annual budget process that fosters collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government;

5. Continue with legislative action to bring to closure all outstanding legislation including the electoral act and constitution amendments bills;

6. Deploy the use of information and communications technology in the conduct of the Senate’s legislative and administrative business;

7. Provide effective public communications and ensure engagement and collaboration with Civil Society Organizations and constituents.

In the pursuit of these objectives, the 9th Senate will work with the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly to pass bills that support government reform efforts aimed at employment generation and poverty reduction, amongst other targets. In the pursuit of these objectives, the 9th Senate will work with the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly to pass bills that support government reform efforts aimed at employment generation and poverty reduction, amongst other targets.

The 7 broad objectives are further captured in three specific areas of action which includes IMPROVING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND CAPABILITIES OF THE SENATE FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE; LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTIONS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE and OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN all explained below

1. IMPROVING INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY AND CAPABILITIES OF THE SENATE FOR EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE

1.1 Institutional Diagnosis
The 9th Senate will start with an assessment of its structural and functional organogram, policies, processes, people, technology, financial resources and physical assets to determine whether they are adequate for the management of and if current resource-loading is sufficient.

1.2 Legislative Processes
The legislative process enhancement will aim to achieve improved quality of bills and motions through the following initiatives and innovations.

1.2.2 Enhancement of Internal Operations of Committees
Regular status review of committees is essential in developing a response to current and inherited obstacles to their effective performance and to strengthen and improve them. With this, committees will be re-invigorated to function optimally as drivers of the legislative agenda.

1.2.2.2 Operational Efficiency and Compliance
Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) will be developed with clearly- defined tools for each committee. This will involve the development of instruments, formats, templates, manuals and guidelines for established protocols for meetings, public hearings, oversight visits and reporting.

1.2.2.3 Performance of the Committees
Committees shall be required to render sessional reports and reports on oversight visits at plenary for the Senate to collectively appraise the challenges committees face in performing their functions.

1.2.2.4 Funding of Committees
Funding of committee activities such as special investigations, oversight and public hearings will be a priority of the 9th Senate. To avoid influence and interference by MDAs, adequate financial provision will be made available to the committees for the execution of their oversight activities.

1.2.2.5 Communications and Public Relations
Committees of the 9th Senate will be encouraged to communicate effectively in their oversight functions by sharing reports of their findings and through formal media briefings where questions may be fielded. The 9th Senate welcomes the contributions of Civil Society Organisations in important activities of the committees.

1.3 Strengthening of Oversight Functions
Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution empower the Senate to investigate the conduct of government business and expose corruption and inefficiency. In the 9th Senate, oversight functions will be conducted in a structured manner. Before undertaking oversight visitations, reports from government agencies will be reviewed and analysed.

1.3.1 Capacity Building for Senators and NASS Staff
Working collaboratively with NILDS, the Senate will undertake a Training Needs Assessment of all its departments and agencies to determine the areas of skills acquisition required for members and their staff to perform optimally.

1.4 Staff Welfare and Improved Industrial Relations
The 9th Senate will pay special attention to the recurring challenge of industrial unrest amongst the staff of the National Assembly, the legislative aides of Senators, and the staff of the National Assembly Service Commission. Dialogue will be encouraged until all issues are resolved in the best interest of all parties concerned.

1.5 Planning and Budgeting Process Reform
The current national planning and annual budgeting process requires substantial reform in order to restore its integrity in the eyes of Nigerians. To this end, the Senate will pursue an aggressive planning and budget process reform agenda.

1.6 Open NASS and Budget Transparency
To effectively address the crisis of confidence btw the Senate and the public, the Senate shall adopt a transparent and accountable system that offers full disclosure of its budget in terms of personnel costs, operational expenses/expenditure.

1.7 ICT-enabled Senate
The 9th Senate will employ modern information technology to improve the efficiency of its legislative and administrative operations. Some of the propositions include the following:

1.7.1. Intranet & Electronic Noticeboards
The 9th Senate will work towards improved internal communication amongst Senators, committee clerks and key legislative aides to achieve a seamless information flow in the Senate.

This will be achieved by the installation of a robust intranet communication system and an electronic noticeboard in a dedicated portal for information management in the Senate.

1.7.2 Digitization and Archiving of Records
The current document storage situation is purely physical and space-consuming. The proposed solution is to introduce digital storage sys. which will preserve documents, file them efficiently, making access and document retrieval faster.

1.8 Inter-chamber Coordination
To promote legislative synergy, the Senate will collaborate with the House of Reps to achieve joint oversight by jointly embarking on investigative visits and hearings. The Senate will strive to eliminate the duplication of committee functions.

1.9 Strengthening External Relations 1.9.1

Presidency and Federal Government

The Senate already works with the Federal Government through its appropriation and budget oversight functions. This collaboration will be strengthened through improved dialogue btw the committees and MDAs. The Senate will make a conscious effort to ensure a smoother relationship with the Presidency, by organising periodic Senate-Presidency meetings to discuss issues of national importance

1.9.2 State Governments/Houses of Assembly
Though not a traditional partner in matters of legislation and oversight, the 9th Senate will institute a channel of engagement with State Governments through the Nigeria Governors Forum and Conference of Speakers. This is for the purpose of peer review and learning, and to engage state governments on matters requiring subnational policy implementation and concurrent or subsidiary legislation.

1.9.3 Media
The Senate will sustain the current media relations platform, and adopt a more robust and consultative approach to the management of Senate media relations.
To avoid speculative reporting and rumour- mongering, the Senate will institute a periodic (e.g. weekly) media parley to brief the Senate media corps on the position of the Senate on current issues.

1.9.4 General Public
The 9th Senate will develop a strategy to improve the public image of the Senate through periodic surveys of public opinion. There will be a conscious effort to build sustained public engagement. This could be done, for example, by increasing the community engagement component of constituency project nomination events. Further, an annual report titled, Senate Works for the People will be published. There will be a concerted effort to reach out to civil society and Non-Governmental organisations to engage them in advocacy and legislative work.

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